Commercial Vehicles Over Five Tons to be Restricted on I-95 in Philadelphia During Democratic National Convention

Commercial Vehicles Over Five Tons to be Restricted on I-95 in
Philadelphia During Democratic National Convention

6/23/2016-KING OF PRUSSIA

Commercial vehicles weighing more than five tons will be prohibited from
traveling on Interstate 95 between Exit 13 (Interstate 76 West/Route
291/Valley
Forge) and Exit 22 (Interstate 676) in Philadelphia from Saturday, July 23
at
12:00 PM, until midday Friday, July 29, the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation said today.

"The rerouting of commercial vehicles off I-95 is associated with the
security
for the Democratic National Convention," said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S.
Richards. "PennDOT and regional transportation partners will utilize a
combination of electronic message boards and stationary signs to guide
commercial truck drivers along alternate routes during this temporary
restriction.

"We urge commercial drivers, if possible, to travel on interstate highways
outside the Philadelphia region during the week of the convention to avoid
being diverted off I-95," Richards added.

Among the types of commercial vehicles to be restricted from traveling on
this
part of I-95 during the convention are delivery trucks, utility vehicles,
parcel trucks, small dump trucks, buses, flatbed and stake trucks,
refrigerated
and box trucks, large delivery trucks, refuse trucks, cement mixers, buses,
and
all tractor trailer combinations including double trailers.

In addition, motor homes and recreational trailers operated for personal
use
and weighing more than five tons will also be restricted from traveling on
this
section of I-95.

The following are the posted detours that drivers of vehicles over five
tons
will be directed to follow to return to I-95 once they exit the interstate:


•From I-95 north: Route 291 (Penrose Avenue) east, to 26th Street, to
Interstate 76 west, to Interstate 676 east; and
•From I-95 south: I-676 west, to I-76 east, to 26th Street, to Route
291(Penrose Avenue) west.

In addition, the northbound and southbound entrance ramps to I-95 between
Exit
13 and Exit 22 in Philadelphia will be closed to commercial vehicles over
five
tons. Commercial vehicles will be directed to use arterial roads to reach
either I-95 north or south beyond Exit 13 or Exit 22.

Richards said all interstate highways and expressways in the Philadelphia
region will remain open to passenger vehicles throughout the convention.
She
advised commuters to allow additional time for travel on I-76, I-676 and
Route
291 during this time because these highways will experience heavier traffic

volumes due to commercial vehicles being diverted off I-95. Citizens should

consider using public transportation for travel into and out of Center
City.

The I-95 exit ramps at Broad Street (Route 611/Exit 17) in south
Philadelphia
also will be closed during convention week.

The I-95 north exit ramp at Broad Street (Route 611/Exit 17) will be closed

from Friday, July 22 at 10:00 PM until midday Friday, July 29.

The southbound I-95 exit ramp at Broad Street (Route 611/Exit 17) will be
open
intermittently during convention week, but only for access to the Navy
Yard.
The southbound exit-ramp will be closed:

•Friday, July 22, at 10:00 PM to Saturday, July 23, at 6:00 AM;
•Monday, July 25, at 2:00 PM to Tuesday, July 26, at 2:00 AM;
•Tuesday, July 26, at 2:00 PM to Wednesday, July 27, at 2:00 AM;
•Wednesday, July 27, at 2:00 PM to Thursday, July 28, at 2:00 AM; and
•Thursday, July 28, at 2:00 PM to midday Friday, July 29.

The southbound I-95 off-ramp will be open to the Navy Yard only at all
other
times during convention week.

The posted detours for motorists to follow during the closure of the I-95
exit
ramps at Broad Street (Route 611/Exit 17) are:

•From I-95 North: Route 291 (Penrose Avenue) east, to Moyamensing Avenue,
to
Oregon Avenue to Broad Street (Route 611); and
•From I-95 South: Enterprise Avenue, to Island Avenue, to Route 291
(Penrose
Avenue) east, to Moyamensing Avenue, to Oregon Avenue to Broad Street
(Route
611).

PennDOT is working closely with regional transportation partners to
coordinate
travel-related messaging and the use of electronic message signs to inform
commercial drivers and travelers of I-95 travel restrictions in
Philadelphia
during this special event. Messages will be posted on 109 permanent and
portable electronic message signs beginning Saturday, July 16, and
continuing
throughout the week of the convention.

PennDOT will not close travel lanes on the following interstate highways
and
expressways for construction and maintenance activities from Sunday night,
July
24, to Friday morning, July 29: I-76; I-95 between I-676 and I-476: I-676;
U.S.
202 between Route 29 and I-76; and U.S. 422 between U.S. 202 and Route 23.

Oversized loads also will be prohibited from traveling in the Philadelphia
region from Saturday, July 23, at 12:00 PM through midday Friday, July 29.

To assist those traveling to Philadelphia for the convention, PennDOT will
launch a travelers' website in July – www.511PA.com/DNC. The website will
be a
useful tool that provides real-time traffic information; color-coded maps
showing how traffic is flowing; and other valuable information. The site
will
be accessible from both desktop and mobile interfaces.

To further help motorists and expedite the reopening of travel lanes
resulting
from breakdowns or incidents during the convention, PennDOT will operate
its
State Farm Safety Patrol tow truck service around-the-clock from Saturday,
July
23, to Friday, July 29, on I-76; I-95 between Route 63 and the Delaware
state
line; I-476; I-676; U.S. 202 between Boot Road and I-76; and U.S. 422
between
U.S. 202 and Route 29.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by
visiting
www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides
traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and
access
to more than 770 traffic cameras.

For more PennDOT information, visit www.penndot.gov. Follow Local PennDOT
Information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly, and follow the
department on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/pennsylvaniadepartmentoftransportation and Instagram at
www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot.


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